A system and method of providing a way of providing operating information about software which is operating within a protected processing or operating environment. The present invention includes an encrypted trace log which may be of substantially constant size and which is encrypted as it is created. In the event of an error, the trace log may be selectively engaged in response to a signal (e.g., in the event of an error or other anomaly or an operator command) and then removed from the protected processing environment and provided in its encrypted form to a central processing location which possesses the decrypting key. Once the trace log is decrypted, the events may be analyzed to determine if an error has occurred and how to correct it.